What Does Ontological Design Do? And Does It Do Enough?

Abstract

This paper proposes to address the questions of 'What is ontological design?' and 'What does ontological design do?' In the first instance, I will summarise how we can define ontological designing, its philosophical origins, and how it can be used as a theoretical tool in design practice. The second half raises the question, 'Does ontological design do enough?' and proposes a way to expand the theory and its impact on how we understand design, objects, and the world in general. To do so, I suggest an approach through Bergson's method of intuition and his model of memory and Malabou's theory on epigenesis. Through this reflection, I intend to expand the limits of ontological designing and suggest a theoretical development which expands the notion of what design is and its agency.